Horn press



HORN'PRESSV Filed Sept. 28, 1937 5 Shets-Sheet 1 I Jvwmw DON Z- CLEVELAND,

' D. L. CLEVELAND 2 3 HORN'PRESS Nov. 2%, 19 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 GIT- 322 Jnniawhn/ Y DON L. CLEVELAND, 1

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D. L. CLEVELAND HORN FRE S S Filed Sept. 28, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .rwm DON I. CLEVELAND,

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Nov. 26, 1940. D. CLEVELAND 4 2,222,833

" I HORN PRESS Filed Sept 28, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 THE. 5.

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Nov. 26, 1940. I ,D. L. CLEVELAND 2,222,833

HORN PRESS Filed Sept. 2a, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DON 1:. CLEVELAND,

cwlbwy 1$W Application septemher 28,1937, Serial No. 166,228

6 illaims.

This invention relates to presses, and in particular, to horn presses having a projecting member upon which the workpiece is supported.

One object oi this invention is to provide a horn press having means for supporting the proiecting portion or horn so as to prevent the breakage .thereofnnder excessive pressures. I

Another object is to provide a horn press, wherein the horn is movable into and out of engagement with a support which suspends the free end of the horn, thereby preventing the bending or breakage of the horn under excessive pressures.

Another object is to provide a horn press of the type described above, wherein the horn is movable away from engagement with a horn support in order to insert and withdraw the workpiece, but is moved into engagement with the support while the workpiece is being worked upon, this support being arranged to suspend at least one end and preferably both ends of the horn during the working operations upon the workpiece.

Another object is to. provide a horn press having a separable horn and horn support for supporting the free end of the horn during loading and unloading-operations, together with a workpiece support, preferably adiustable andoperatively connected to the press platen so as to lift the workpiece when the platen rises.

Another object is to provide a horn press with an adjustable work support, as described above, wherein means is provided for simultaneously adjusting the position of the opposite ends of the support.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a press comprising one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, along the irregular line 2-2 showing the embodiment of the horn press illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a horn press according to this invention, showing the platen, the horn and the work-support in their raised positions for the insertion and withdrawal of the workpieces.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of Figure 3, with one side of the press broken away to disclose the interior more clearly.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the work-support and horn lowered into the working positions, the platen being in its raised position.

Figure 6 is a. side elevation similar to Figure 4 of the horn press in the position of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a front elevation, similar to Figures d Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the position of the work-support relatively to the platen. Figure 10 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 9. I

Figure 1-1 is a view of a typical workpiece, such as an automobile wheel rim, before being worked upon in the horn press. I

Figure 12 is a view of the workpiece of Figure 11 after it has been pressed in the horn press to more nearly the correct shape.

Figure 13 is a view of the workpiece of Figures 11 and 12 after it has been pressed to shape and welded.

In general, the horn press of this invention consists of a-movable horn or forwardly projecting member which carries the lower die, upon which the workpiece rests. This movable horn is arranged in one position to rest upon a support, which supports it at least at its free end, and preferably at both of its ends. The horn is arranged to be picked-up by rods attached to the main platen, and moved upwardly as the main platen moves upwardly, so as to move the free end of the horn away from the horn support and permit the workpieces to be inserted or withdrawn. Optionally, a workpiece support is pro?- vided for supporting the lower portions of the workpiece below the horn, and likewise operatively' connected to the platen to be moved upwardly as the platen moves upwardly to the loading and press elements in the.

jecting member for the workpiece to rest upon.

tion. This press is provided with top and bottom members i3 and II, interconnected by strain rods I2. 011 the top member I3 is supported a main cylinder l3, having a surge tank |4 thereabove for containing fluid. A pump l3, preferably of the reversible variable delivery type, is operated by an electric motor |3 for supplying fluid to the main cylinder |3 for operating the mainplunger or ram II, to which is attached the main platen i3. Mounted upon the lower surface of the main platen |3 is the die carrier l3, having the upper die 23 secured thereto.

Suspended from the platen I8, as by the rods 2|, is the horn carrier 22 which is guided, as at 23, by the strain rods l2 asit moves up and down under the influence of the rods 2| and main platen i3. Secured to the horn carrier 22 is the vertical portion 24 of the horn assembly. generally designated 25, and having a horizontal portion 23 extending forwardly from the vertical portion 24. The horizontal portion 23 is provided with the lower die 21, resting thereon and adapted to support the portion of the workpiece which is acted upon by the upper die 23. The rods 2|, which raise and lower the horn carrier 22 in response to the motion of the main platen I3, are

} distance than the extent of the workpiece '33 and into which the workpiece 33 may extend downwardly while suspended from the lower die 21 on the horn portion 23. The horn support arms 3| and 32 may be provided with recesses 33, into which fit corresponding projections 31 (Figure 3), upon the lower sides of the horizontal horn member 23. The latter may also be provided with an additional downward projection 33, adapted to fit into the space separating the front and rear horn supports 3| and 32, respectively.

Secured to the main platen l3 and extending downwardly, therefrom are the threaded rods 33, having-threaded portions 43 engaged by nuts 41 (Figure 3) mounted upon an H-shaped cross member 42, the cross bar of which passes through the space 34 between the front and rear arms 3| and 32 of the horn support 33. The nuts 4| (Figures 9 and 10) are attached to sprockets 43 engaged by a sprocket chain 44, which is likewise engaged by a sprocket 43 mounted on a vertical shaft 43 carrying the bevel gear 41. The latter meshes with a bevel gear 43 on a shaft 43, carrying a hand wheel 33. By rotating the hand wheel 33 the sprockets 43 and nuts 4| are caused to rotate simultaneously, thereby raising and lowering the cross member means 42 upon the threaded portions 43 of the rods 33;

In Figures 3 to 8, inclusive, the form of press shown is substantially the same as that in Figures 1 and 2, but is simplified and the rods 33 are placed upon the outside of the strain rods II in order to disclose the construction more clearly.

- Mounted upon the top surface of the cross member means 42 are bifurcated brackets 3|, supporting axles 32 carrying rollers 33. The assembly of the cross member means 42, the bifurcated brackets 3| and the rollers 33 form the workpiece support assembly, generally designated 34. The upper ends of the threaded rods 33 in Figures 3 to 8 are shown to be provided with enlarged heads 33, immediately above the holes 33 in the main platen |3 through which the rods 33 pass.

The press may be provided with any suitable control device, and it forms no part of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, however,

valve rod 32 connected through the links and levers 33 to 12, inclusive, to the top 13 of the vertical control rod 14. The latter is mounted, as at 13, 13 and 11, for vertical reciprocation, and carries the spaced collars 13 engaged by the bifurcated end 13 of the hand lever 33. The latter is of bellcrank form and is pivotally mounted, as at 3|, upon the lower press member By moving the hand lever 33 to and fro the servomotor valve rod 32 may be caused to move to the right or left, and thereby caused to operate the servomotor 33 to shift the flow control of the pump into varying positions of forward or reverse delivery of the pump |3. The pressure fluid will therefore flow through the pipe 32 for motion of the main plunger H in one direction, and through the pipe 33 for motion thereof in the opposite direction. The pipe 34 proceeds downwardly to hydraulic devices, mounted in the bottom member ll of the press, which likewise has the tonnage control device 33 mounted thereon and controlled by turning the hand wheel 33 (Figure 2) The tonnage control device 33 has been omitted from Figure 1 in order to avoid concealing the parts located behind it. The pump control may likewise be operated electrically through the link 31 interconnecting the lever 12 with the armature 83 of the solenoid 33. These details or the control system form no part of the present; invention and hence are omitted in Figures 3 tail, inelusive.

In the operation of the horn press of this invention, the control of the pump i3 is shifted to cause the main plunger |1 tense and lift with it the upper die 23, .the horn assembly 23 and the work-support assembly 34. If a workpiece 33 is already in the press, it is ra'sed into the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. The lower portion 23 of the horn assembly 25 is now separated vertically from the arms 3| and 32 of the horn support 33, and the upper die 23 is likewise separated from the lower di 21. Under these circumstances, the finished workpiece 33 may be withdrawn by raising it to the dotted line position shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a new workpiece placed in the position shown by the. solid lines in Figures 3 .and 4 merely by reversing the procedure.

The main platen I1 is then caused to move downwardly so as to lower the horn assembly 23 into position with the horizontal portion 23 thereof resting upon the front and rear arms 3| and 32' of the horn support 33. To press the workpiece the main plunger I1 is now caused to continue to move downwardly, thereby bringing the upper die 23 into engagement with the workpiece 33 resting upon the lower die 21. The workpiece may then be pressed from the rough conaaaaess support assembly 54 remains motionless so that only the upper die 20 continues to move in the last stages of operation.

In order to accommodate varying sizes of workpieces, such as different sizes of automobile rims, the hand wheel may be rotated to raise or lower the positions of the rollers 53 relatively to the lower die 11 upon which the upper part of the workpiece 35 rests, When the pressure of the upper die 20 is brought to bear upon the workpiece 35 and transmitted therethrough to the horizontal portion 26, the latter is completely supported at both of its ends by the horn support arms 3| and 32. Since the horn is not left unsupported at one end, as in prior art horn presses but is completely supported at both ends during the pressing operation, the breakage of the horizontal horn portion 26 is completely prevented. At the same time the raising of the platen l8 and the consequent raising of the horn assembly 25 immediately separate the horizontal horn portion 26 from the horn supports 3| and 32 to enable the insertion or removal of workpieces.

The automobile rims shown as the workpieces 35 are merely for the purpose of illustration and may consist of any type of workpiece of the class ordinarily processed in a horn press. The purpose of the horn press is to provide a free space for portions of the workpiece which project or extend in a direction making them incapable of being accommodated in ordinary presses.

It will'be understood that I desire to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the piece'support arranged to support a portion of the workpiece when in position upon said horn, and means for connecting said workpiece support to said platen for motion thereofrelatively to said horn support whereby to move the workpiece away from said horn support.

'2. In a press, a platen, a horn support, a horn connected to said platen and movable therewith out of engagement with said horn support for the insertion and removal of workpieces, a workpiece support arranged to support a portion of the workpiece when in position upon said horn, means for connecting said workpiece support to said platen for motion thereof relatively to said horn support whereby to move the workpiece away from said horn support, and adjustment means for varying the distance between said work-support and said horn for the adaptation thereof to varying sizes and shapes of workpieces.

3. In a press, a platen, a horn, a horn support having a plurality of supporting positions adapted to support said horn in the vicinity of its opposite ends, means for moving said horn into and out of engagement with said horn support, and an auxiliary workpiece support movable with said horn support for moving the workpiece in at least one direction.

4. In a press, a platen movable along an axis,.

a first die mounted on said platen, a horn comprising two spaced horizontal arms and a connecting vertical arm, means loosely connecting said upper horizontal arm and said platen permitting relative vertical movement between'said parts, said horn movable with said platen for a portion of the stroke thereof, a second die on thelower horizontal arm of said horn, said dies being engageable at a given time'with a part only of the total portion of the workpiece worked upon by said dies, a horn support comprising a pair of prising two spaced horizontal arms and a con necting vertical arm, means loosely connecting the upper horizontal arm and saidplaten permitting relative vertical movement between said parts, said horn movable with said platen for a' portion of the stroke thereof, a second die on the lower horizontal arm of said horn, and a horn support comprising a plurality of supporting arms having a cavity therebetween extending in a direction along the axis of movement of said platen away from said die a greater distance than the workpiece extends into said cavity when resting against said second die.

6. In a press, a platen movable along an axis, I

a first die mounted on said platen, a horn comprising two spaced horizontal arms and a connecting vertical arm, means loosely connecting said upper horizontal arm and said platen permitting relative vertical movement between said parts for automatically moving said horn into and out of engagement with said horn support in response to the working and retraction strokes respectively of said platen; said horn movable with said platen for a portion of the stroke thereof, a second die on the lower horizontal arm of said horn, said dies being engageable at a given time with a part only of the total portion of the workpieceworked-upon by said dies, a horn support having a plurality of supporting arms adapted to support said horn in the vicinity of the opposite ends of its lower horizontal arm, said horn support arms having a cavity therebetween extending in a direction along the axis of movement of said platen away from said die a greater distance than the workpiece extends into said cavity when resting against said second die.

' DON L, CLEVELAND. 

